Apple prototyping iPhone with physical keyboard?!

According to a rough translation from tw.apple.pro, Apple may be prototyping an iPhone with a physical slide-out keyboard.

The site's source claimed that Apple has built three prototype models for its anticipated "iPhone 5," and one of them has a "sliding cover" that conceals a keyboard.

The translation also mentioned the rumored iPhone Nano which has picked up a lot of traction recently, as well as a prototype similar to the iPhone 4 but with upgraded internals.

While we've seen a few different rumors floating around about purported iPhone models coming down the pipe, this one seems a little too far-fetched for our liking. When we asked if anyone still wanted an iPhone with a physical keyboard, the majority of responses we saw were in favor of a software-based keyboard. On top of that, Steve Jobs has professed his love for the software keyboard because of its ability to adapt to any use-case needed.

Any of our readers think there's weight to these new rumors? Let us know in the comments below!

Andrew WrayAndrew Wray is a Salt Lake City, Utah based writer who focuses on news, how-tos, and jailbreak. Andrew also enjoys running, spending time with his daughter, and jamming out on his guitar. He works in a management position for Unisys Technical Services, a subsidiary of Unisys Corporation.

Reader comments

Apple prototyping iPhone with physical keyboard?!

I have missed a physical keyboard forever. I have become accustomed to the touch keyboard but I still hate typing on it. Texting to me is still a pain and I'd wish for a physical keyboard so I knew what I was pressing. The slim iPhone could easily fit a slide out keyboard and I'm sure apples new iPhone will be even slimmer so adding a keyboard wouldn't be that hard. My buddies crappy t mobile phone has swype which is amazing and when you click a key the phone vibrates, it just feels better getting a physical response. Unlike iPhones click click click sound.

Think what Chris is referring to is that he doesn't want to carry a phone that has a keyboard....even if u can choose not to use it. I would certainly agree give me an option of not having a hardware keyboard and instead a slimmer phone. I am certain apply would not allow a keyboard on the iPhone ever but if they did n it was the only option I would be very unhappy as a client.

I have always wanted an iPhone with a hardware keyboard, even though Steve said it won't happen, and I agree with the above comment that if they only release iPhone 5 with a keyboard they will lose custom.
On an interesting side option it would be ok if there was a version with the hardware slide, but on it a secondary screen. That way they could still display the software keyboard (customised depending on what you're soon on the phone at the time) but retain the whole display to it and not lose over 50% of the viewing area to the keyboard.
Just a thought.

Its a simple idea. If you don't have the keyboard slid out, the onscreen keyboard pops up. If you need to type and you slide it out the on screen keyboard goes away. It's not rocket science. The extra room on the screen would be great.

If they release a keyboard only iPhone, they will lose tons yet millions of customers, including me and everyone I know who owns an iphone. NO alternate version. The phone world changed because of Apple's approach to doing things and that included not using a keyboard on this WORLD changing phone.

As an alternative, not a bad idea since more choice usually good.
For those of us who actually know multiple languages, software keyboard is the only way to go. English and French I would prefer using a physical keyboard but for languages like Chinese (need handwriting recognition) and Korean (need change in software keyboard). I got use to typing in all those languages with the software keyboards so don't see how this would change.
Why can't there be a rumor about a bigger iPhone? =_=

I think it would be good for Apple to expand their market to attract more people to the iPhone. Like an iPhone nano for people for want an iPhone but don't really have the money to spend or an iPhone with a keyboard for people that prefer a keyboard rather than an virtual one. I like the virtual one, it's a lot more accurate than Android's virtual keyboard and the screen is really responsive.

Apple giving choice is this possible I fell like. This is becoming more like android Ha ha ha good bye android and blackbery and windows phone and HP Appple makes every tipe of phone now no need for anything else ha ha ha

What do people not understand about this? It's not saying that if Apple releases an iPhone with a keyboard that the touch keyboard will disappear. It's simply that if you have the keyboard slid closed, the touch keyboard will be up, if you slide out the keyboard, the phone goes into Landescape mode, and takes the touch keyboard off screen. It's that simple. Apple wouldn't lose any customers if they added a keyboard to it, and if people did leave their iPhones just because Apple gave you an alternative to a touch keyboard, well, that sucks for you.

I have no need for a physical keyboard, but I would like to have a nice t9 to make it easier to text when i'm busy doing other things. I had t9 on my droid, and loved it, but it would be different, because you could add words to the dictionary to make it learn what you type.

I was under the impression that Apple routinely tests out a number of form factors. If true, then this news is no surprise. The question is will they ever actually release an iPhone with a physical keyboard and if they do does it get a new name like bPhone.

I don't believe this for a second. Apple places a high importance on internationalization and having a soft keyboard that can adapt to virtually any language is essential to this effort.
While devices like the BlackBerry are stuck in the stone age in terms of international language capability, the iPhone is leading the way in opening up to more languages, in a way that even Android has yet to catch up with. My iPhone allows me to type in the common European languages, as well as in other scripts such as Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Thai, etc, all built in and without installing additional software. Few other smartphones offer this kind of input versatility, let alone the ability to display the entire interface in these languages. That is why I don't foresee a hard keyboard on these devices. Notice also that while you can buy BlackBerrys in some of those specific countries to get language capability for that specific language, every iPhone supports all of those languages natively out of the box, no matter where you buy it from. This is a major reason why I will be using iOS devices for a long time to come.

I'm sorry - a physical keyboard in my opinion would be the kiss of death for the iPhone. There are many features that make the iPhone stand out from its competitors - adding a physical keyboard would push the iPhone into being more compared to the mass of generic phones out there and that's not what the iPhone needs.
I also can't imagine Apple would cheapen or dumb-down the iPhone to create an "iPhone Nano" as it's being called - but that's a discussion for another thread.

I'd LOVE an iPhone with a physical keyboard! I'm a business user and, even though the software keyboard on the iPhone is very good, typing long notes or emails on the go can be rather cumbersome. It wouldn't necessarily mean that there's no software keyboard either; most "pro" phones, e.g. Motorola Milestone or HTC Touch Pro, have both and it works very well. Just use the software keyboard for quick stuff like tweets or SMS and slide out the HD keyboard if you want to do something more involving.

Apple has made 3 prototypes? Hmm this reminds me about the Simpsons episode: "Who shot Mr. Burns?". The writers has made several alternate endings, just to cover up the real ending when it finally got aired.
Is it possible that this is the same scenario deviced by Apple?

No physical keyboard made the iPhone unique at one point. Now, I can't imagine it with a keyboard. I absolutely love the touch keyboard. It's awesome being able to switch orientation and languages on the fly.
There is no need for a physical keyboard!

Hey Apple,
A slide out keyboard is the ONLY reason I haven't switched to the iPhone. I tried, but simply can't get used to a small onscreen keyboard. On the iPad, I love it, because the keys are bigger...but on the phone it's just too small. Give us a slide out keyboard!
BostonGekko

I would buy, only found this article bc I searched to see if they would actually ever come out with one, but swipe seems to keepa portion of the ppl wanting this happy, but for ppl like me I llove my sidekick 4g awsome comfortable keyboard, but would deff buy a iphone if they ever came out with a keyboard model, can't be that hard to make why not do it for ppl like me, plus I have sweaty hands so sometimes touchscreens can be hard.....

As a former BB user and now, Android user, the only thing keeping me from switching to an iPhone is the lack of a physical keyboard. I've had 3 touchscreen devices with virtual keyboards (Droid Incredible, Thunderbolt and iPod Touch) and I hate a virtual keyboard all around. Give me an iPhone 5 w/ physical keyboard and I'll be on board. Until then, no iPhone for me.